2nd Test: India aim for turnaround at SCG

2nd Test: India aim for turnaround at SCG

Crushed in the series-opener, India aim to draw level when they go into the second cricket Test against Australia in Sydney on Tuesday amid growing concerns over their famed batting line-up's ability to deliver in overseas conditions.

The 122-run loss in the opening Test in Melbourne was demoralising but the Indians have a reputation of being bad starters on tours before bouncing back.

And India would be aiming for another one of those turnarounds at the SCG, hoping that veteran Sachin Tendulkar gets his eagerly-anticipated but elusive 100th international century to lead the way.

Their fine past record at the SCG, which will incidentally host its 100th Test, should give the Indians the confidence that was dented by the thrashing at Melbourne.

Aussies will be backed by seam-friendly bowling conditions

Australia don't intend to depart from the tested theory of aggressive seam bowling, helpful bowling conditions and is likely to yield rich dividends to Michael Clarke's men this time around.

As the Indian batsmen refuse to let go deliveries outside the off-stump or look for bowlers to get into their fourth and fifth spells, the wait on the team getting to their 300s is becoming interminably long.

The hosts have retained the same eleven that did duty in Melbourne, which means Nathan Lyon will get another opportunity to prove his worth. The Indians have not yet announced their playing eleven but indications are that Virat Kohli may be persisted with.

India have crossed the 300-run mark only on two occasions recently

In 11 Tests since the series against South Africa in 2010-11, India has crossed 400 only once on foreign soil. There have been only two scores in excess of 300.

In the last 10 Test innings, their best was the 300 they just-about managed at The Oval this summer. All those centuries and thousands of runs and those carefully built reputations are just about worth that much.

And they should not expect any respite at the SCG, where the 'Monkeygate' scandal put the two team's relationship on a razor's edge in 2008.

The two protagonists of the ugly drama -- Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds -- are not around this time and therefore it is expected to be controversy-free.

Indian batsman have not backed themselves enough

Australia have made public their plan to dry up runs for the Indians. Coach Mickey Arthur has mocked the Indians' inability to play through maiden overs.

It starts with the top where Gautam Gambhir can't help but go for those dab shots to deliveries leaving his off-stump and Virender Sehwag, who wouldn't just leave those away deliveries and let them go through to the wicketkeeper.

The middle order of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman would go the other extreme of playing maidens after maidens. The looks of Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are of batsmen who don't back themselves to spend long minutes at the crease.

Tailenders frustrate Indians

Only Tendulkar was reassuring at the MCG but it's a moot point what a solitary batsman alone can do when it is taking 11 Australians to scratch together competitive scores.

The other issue with India is the roadblock they hit against the tailenders. Often, the top order of the rivals is accounted for only for the tail to wag for long hours. At MCG, the tail added no less than 221 runs for Australia.

A lot of it is being blamed on skipper Dhoni himself and his tendency to spread the field at the sight of tailenders. The runs consequently leak all around and before long, the tailenders stick long at the crease.

An important psychological point often missed is that a defensive field makes the bowlers bowl defensively too. It's not a very sound theory when the wicket is as helpful as the MCG was or the SCG is likely to be.

SCG not as spinner-friendly as before

Tendulkar averages 221-odd and Laxman 96-odd from their outings at the SCG. The conditions at the venue would now be vastly different even though sun would be out on all five days.

The pitch at the SCG these days is vastly different from its traditional sub-continent like surface. Spinners have taken only 12 of the 57 wickets in domestic competition at the SCG this summer.

Indian bowlers perhaps would do their job -- more so if they happen to bowl first in really difficult batting conditions the SCG is likely to offer on the first day.

Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma are likely to get better and Ashwin would have more purchase from the surface. Yet it would be folly to believe that the Australians, especially their top order, wouldn't have learnt from their mistakes at the MCG.

Image: India's Ishant Sharma stretches during a practice session at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday

It's up to Indian batsmen to turn the corner

At the base, the issue is how the Indian batsmen can turn the corner. The last two days have been spent pondering; the next two in lead-up to the Test would be used in practicing those ideas at the nets.

There is no example better than that of Tendulkar himself who has spent hours facing the out swingers at high speed from the bowling machine during nets on this tour.

Indians would have to force the Australians to bowl to their strengths rather than fall for their plan. In that alone rests the chance of a revival. Otherwise, it's a depressing start to the New Year for the tourists.